Names released: Mother shot dead by father of her two children

Laronda Becker was shot dead in front of her two children on Monday, Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies said. The children's father, Reginald Johnson, has been identified as the shooter. 

Police said on Monday at the Haverhill Gardens apartment complex,  Johnson arrived at the apartment and started fighting with Becker, his estranged girlfriend and the mother of his children. Becker's mother was also home at the time. They managed to barricade Johnson in a back bedroom, but he got out.  Investigators said he then shot Becker as her mother ran outside and called police.

"He's a sick person, she was scared of him," said Gloria Williams, Becker's aunt.  She said the couple had a long history of abuse and domestic violence.

 "They use to live together when she was pregnant and he use to choke her a lot", said Williams.

Neighbor LeAndrea Barnett heard the gunshots.

 "I saw the lady run out saying, you know, he shot my daughter. He shot my daughter. He's in the house. That's when they told me to go in my house and lock the doors and do not come out," said Barnett.

Deputies arrived and tried to make contact with Johnson. When they couldn't reach him, they entered the apartment. They said Johnson then shot himself in the head, while his children were still in the apartment as police tried to enter.

 "They (the children) are two and three years old. A boy and girl, so it's possible they are traumatized. It's a horrific situation that occurred," said Palm Beach County Sheriff's Spokeswoman Teri Barbera.

Johnson is expected to survive.